Former Nigeria military President, Dr. Yakubu Gowon has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a fighter and a man of destiny.
Gowon, who chaired the launching of a book today, Monday, titled: Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja said that Buhari is a dogged fighter and man of destiny
The book was written by an accomplished American academic, Professor John Paden. It is a chronology of the life’s and times of president Buhari both in the military and civilian governments.
The civilian war military Head of State said that the book on Buhari captured the real personality of President Buhari, adding: “I do not expect the book to be anything less than as it has been described. More so, as everyone created by God particularly in a position of leadership is a story waiting to be told.
“Buhari deserves every word of praise as well as criticism. I can say without fear of Favour that president Buhari is a fighter and a man of destiny. As a Hong officer, he did so well during several assignments and operations within and without Nigeria that called my attention and that of other leadership and that is the reason why he was catapulted to the top within a short time.
“As a combat politician, he fought many battles to take charge of Nigeria from Aso Villa in spite of being told several times that he would never see the inside of the Villa.
“His election in 2015 as president in a free and fair election is therefore an affirmation of the notion that persistence pays. His like the Irish man, third time lucky but not for their term.
“It is however being his lot to lead Nigeria in an extra ordinary difficult times when the economy needed to be quickly rescued. True to tell, Mr. President has been doing his best to get things going to ensure that the economy is restored to good health and the suffering of the masses is taken care of.”
Also speaking at the launching, the Guest of Honour and also former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo told a story of Buhari’s credibility during his time as a federal commissioner. He said that despite their disagreement on issues, they had not lost their affinity with each another.
“Not too long ago, we had a direct opposition at the ballot box. But even then, it did not affect our relationship. Fortunately, we didn’t have to look at each other through the barrel of our guns and I thank God for that.”
Meanwhile the author of the book, Professor Paden said that the proceeds of the book would be given to charity and the internally displaced persons in north east.
“This books seeks to answer the questions: who’s president Buhari and how’s grappling with the many challenges of Nigeria. My initial motivation was to introduce President Buhari to the international audience on the assumptions that Nigerians already knew their president. But increasingly, I came to feel that, perhaps, Nigerians might find it useful to review Buhari’s challenges in and out of the office, his military training in UK and elsewhere, his roles in military regime, including his time as military head of state for 20 months, his detention, his reemergence as a civil society leader and his eventual engagement in politics in the 4th republic since 1999.
“Let me note that over the years, I witness the emergence of president Buhari as a charismatic figure to millions of young people. Since taken office, I have also witnessed his emergence as an internal statesman. I tried to remain objective since over years I have worked with Nigerians on all points of political spectrum.
“I dedicate this book to the unity of Nigeria. Second challenge is stemming corruption. The third challenge is economic meltdown. The fourth challenge is democratic federalism. One of the reasons why Nigeria has gained new international status has been the peaceful transfer of power from the previous administration to the current one.
“I have decided that all the proceeds of this book launch will go charity including humanitarian help for the internally displaced persons at the north east.”
The book launched attracted Presidents of Chad, Cameroon and Benin republics with many Nigeria public officials past and president, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Namadi Sambo as well as several state governors and chairman and publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka. [myad]
